6 Small-Group Dolphin Trips Worth Flying For

1.Small Group 2 Hour Dolphin Cruise with Snorkeling to Shell Key

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,523 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $75Our pick

Set out from Tierra Verde Marina on a 25-foot pontoon with up to six people. Captain Noel, Megan, or Dave may guide you across Boca Ciega Bay to look for dolphins and manatees, then stop at Shell Key for beach snorkeling, swimming, and shell collecting. Water, gear, ice, and free parking are included.

“Go for 4 hours instead of 2. It was the highlight of our trip to Florida. Noel was the best and made sure we had a great experience..thank you Noel”

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2.Dolphin Watching with Marine Biologist – Small Group

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 867 reviews · 3 hours · from $61

Set out from Doca de Santo Amaro with a marine biologist and skilled skipper to look for wild dolphins, whales, seabirds, and sunfish. You may hear guides such as Mariana, Vanessa, or Maria explain marine life and research as you travel from the Tagus to the open sea, then return past Lisbon landmarks.

“Great trip, we saw loads of dolphins at different points. The guide and skipper were friendly, informative and made us feel welcome. Mariana and Sebastio were great!”

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3.Small Group Dolphin and Wildlife Watching Tour in Faro

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 578 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $66

Set out from Faro in a nine-person RIB with marine biologists such as Diogo, Pedro, Miguel, and Susanne. Cruise through Ria Formosa to the Atlantic, watching for dolphins, whales, porpoises, turtles, sunfish, seabirds, and more. Expect a fast, open-water ride, careful wildlife rules, and about two and a half hours on the water.

“I am very picky about what company’s I pick when it comes to animal activities. But this company seemed like the right one, and that was absolutely true. The biologists were very kind, professional and fun. They could tell us alot about the different species that live in the water, and it was amazing to have someone on board that knew alot about orcas. When we found an pod of dolphins they kept an respectable distance and gave the animals the choice to themselves to approach us. They didnt but I did not mind at all. We stayed with the pod for the 30 minutes that was allowed. Awesome to…”

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4.Small Group Dolphin Kayak Eco-Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 351 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $68

Meet Chesapean Outdoors at North End Beach for a two-hour guided kayak trip along Virginia Beach. You’ll use a stable sit-on-top kayak, learn basic safety, and paddle through dolphin habitat toward Cape Henry Lighthouse. Guides such as Matt, Jack, Declan, and Tommy are known for helping mixed-ability groups and sharing facts about dolphins, birds, and local history.

“The tour guides were wonderful and we saw many dolphin pods during our tour! The bay was serene and the whole experience was informative and breathtaking.”

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5.Eco-Raft Tour: Maui-Lanai Snorkel / Dolphin Watch (Semi-Private)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 259 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $96

Set out from Lahaina on a small eco-raft with a crew such as Captain Jack, Jill, or Darrell. Choose a 5-hour snorkel trip to Lanai, a 2-hour dolphin watch, or a seasonal snorkel and whale-watching combo. Expect lifeguard-led instruction, marine life talks, food, drinks, and a bumpy ride that rewards travelers who handle open water well.

“Captain Jill and Val were great hosts! We got to see a Pod of about 50 Spinner dolphins. Snorkeled above sea turtles and swam about 15 feet from them. My favorite was all the beautiful fish we saw at the reef! Jill and Val explained everything well and told us a lot of great history of the area as well. Highly recommend this tour !”

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6.Small group Kayak tour with Aperitif &dolphins

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 253 reviews · 3 hours · from $58Best value

Philipp leads a three-hour kayak trip from Spiaggia dei Baracconi toward Cala Moresca, Figarolo, and Golfo Aranci’s fish farm. You’ll paddle with no more than nine people, swim and snorkel twice, enjoy Sardinian pastries or a sunset aperitif, and look for dolphins in their usual feeding area.

“We have absolutely enjoyed our kayak tour with Philipp and yes we did see the dolphins. In particular we appreciated the group being small which made the whole experience more personal. 100% recommend!!!”

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